episode_0103

After talking with Villarze, he left, saying he had something to do first. Evelyn bid him farewell and immediately headed towards the academy.

“……He was somehow an unpleasant man. Don’t you think?”

Evelyn muttered, stroking the head of the sparrow perched on her shoulder. As if agreeing with her, the sparrow vigorously nodded its head.

The praise the man had for Acell and the fangirling he showed towards Ena somehow felt quite twisted.

She showed a bright smile in front of him as much as possible, but inwardly she was thinking of a plan to escape from the man as much as possible.

Fortunately, since he left first, she didn’t need to tell any clumsy lies, but regardless, she never wanted to meet him again. Just remembering his lifeless eyes sent chills down her spine.

“Ugly face too! Unpleasant!”

[Chirp chirp!]

“Right? You think so too, don’t you?”

While continuing to walk and chat with the sparrow, Evelyn realized that the people around her were looking at her strangely, and her face turned bright red as she sped up her steps.

And before long, she was able to arrive at the academy entrance. The guards at the gate asked Evelyn, who was approaching, in a polite voice.

“Where are you going?”

“Uh… I came to meet my brother. Professor Marie said I could meet him if I went to the academy…”

“May I ask your brother’s name?”

“Acell.”

“I see. Could you show us the invitation sent by the academy?”

Evelyn did as the guard instructed.

The invitation with the clear academy seal. After the guard verified the invitation was genuine using a magical tool, he cleared the path for her to enter the academy.

“It has been verified. Have a pleasant academy tour.”

“Thank you! But… where would be the fastest place to go to meet Acell?”

“Hmm. A match is likely to start soon, so it would be best to go towards the waiting room. A guard will be at the entrance, and if you show the invitation like now, only the families of the top and second students are allowed to enter.”

“Ah…”

“Of course, you must leave when the match begins. You are free to stay until then.”

“Thank you! May you be blessed!”

Evelyn smiled brightly and passed by the guard.

Just then, the guard shyly grabbed her shoulder and spoke.

“Um… Do, do you perhaps have a boyfriend?”

“Huh.”

At the sudden pickup line, Evelyn frowned and carefully removed the guard’s hand.

“I’m sorry. Unless it’s a man handsomer and cooler than my brother, I’m just going to live alone…”

“……”

“Then, goodbye.”

Evelyn bowed deeply and, following the map drawn on the invitation, cheerfully walked towards the waiting room.

***

Two hours before the inter-year joint match began.

Acell sat in the first-year waiting room, staring blankly at the ceiling. He had a lot to think about.

The outcome of the match was frankly obvious. Håkon was strong, but not strong enough to reach Acell’s level. If Acell put his mind to it, it was possible to finish it in just a few minutes.

There was no need to go all out. Although high-level magic couldn’t be used due to the match rules, Håkon wouldn’t be able to endure just by manifesting multiple mid-level spells.

It was a pity for him, but Acell no longer considered him an opponent. The moment he gave his all, it was clear that Håkon would drop to his knees without even managing a few sword swings.

But Acell had no intention of ending the match so meaninglessly.

His 고민 (gobin – worry/concern) was less about the match itself, and more about the fruit he could gain through the match.

‘Aleph said the last ingredient needed for the Demon Descent Ritual was the blood or soul of a young mage, didn’t she?’

Acell remembered what Aleph had said.

A high-level demon capable of devastating the surroundings with just a descent, not a manifestation. To summon him into this world, Gorcel and the black mages planned to cause terror in the academy and kidnap students amidst the chaos.

That *was* the plan. It failed because Acell intervened, nullifying both the terror and the kidnappings. As a result, the method to obtain the final ingredient to summon the demon disappeared.

And strangely, Acell had a need to find the method he himself had destroyed.

He didn’t plan to summon a demon. But he needed to at least maintain appearances. To infiltrate the demon worshippers and to deal with the demon’s vessel just before the descent.

That being said, he had no intention of kidnapping someone, stealing blood, or causing physical injury. Perhaps if the opponent was an extremely wicked person, but finding wicked people in the middle of the academy was practically impossible.

So, there was only one usable method.

If he couldn’t get help from others, he had no choice but to rely on himself.

‘If I deliberately cut off one finger joint during the match and take it along with the blood I’ve already collected, that should at least meet the requirements. Because it’s the body and blood of a young and great mage.’

[Leaving aside praising yourself like that, will you be alright?]

Aleph, held in his arms, reacted to Acell’s thoughts.

[Though it’s just one finger joint, physical injury is accompanied by great pain. I know regeneration is possible, but still, aren’t you pushing yourself too hard…?]

‘There’s no other way. I can’t exactly ask other people for blood or a part of their body.’

[That’s true, but… Haa.]

Aleph sighed deeply and grumbled.

[Personally, I don’t really want to see my master get hurt. Especially if the opponent isn’t that strong.]

‘Don’t be like that too much.’

[I apologize. Due to my nature, I cannot harbor any feelings for any being other than my master. Therefore, I cannot help but feel displeased in a situation where my master gets hurt.]

Acell wore a wry smile at Aleph’s words.

As she said, she held no feelings for anyone other than Acell. Both positive and negative.

However, if it was related to Acell, it was possible for her to feel a faint emotion towards the situation itself.

This was exactly the case now.

Aleph didn’t hide her displeasure and revealed it without reservation.

[I’ll let it pass now, but from next time, absolutely do not get hurt on purpose. Understood? Master?]

‘Okay. I promise. Unless it’s a special situation like now, I won’t get hurt on purpose.’

[Even in a special situation, you should do that. Foolish master.]

Instead of replying, Acell let out a little laugh and lowered his head. At that moment, Elena, who was sitting next to him, suddenly pushed her head into his face.

Elena stared intently into Acell’s black eyes and opened her mouth cutely.

“Wahh!”

“Why.”

Acell stared back at Elena’s crimson pupils and uttered in a flat tone. At that, Elena puffed out her cheeks and lightly tapped Acell’s forearm.

“What’s this. Your reaction isn’t fun. Be surprised!”

“I am very surprised. I am trembling with fear.”

“……Want to die?”

“Ack. Just spare me.”

“I don’t want to? Wahhh!”

Elena plopped down on Acell’s lap and pushed her head into his neck, while he replied with a poker face.

At that moment, Grace, who was also seated next to Acell, grabbed the hem of Elena’s shirt firmly and forcefully pulled her away from Acell.

Elena flinched in surprise at the rough touch, and Grace looked down at her and clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

“What are you doing in a place where other people are present? Know your limits.”

A cynical tone, the exact opposite of what she showed Acell. But Elena didn’t stay quiet either.

She brushed off the clothes Grace had touched with a cold expression, and glared at Grace, her crimson pupils wide.

“……Don’t touch my body casually. I haven’t given you permission.”

“……Ha. How absurd. Did you give permission to Acell? Why?”

“Why should I tell you that? Were we that close?”

Elena scoffed and sat back down in her seat next to Acell.

“What happens between Acell and me, I don’t think I need to report it to you. Why should I, when you’re not Acell’s lover?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Mosquitoes have swarmed around Acell, so I need to deal with them somehow. What do you think might happen if I just leave them alone?”

“……Mosquito?”

“Oh my, look at that face. You look like you’re going to stab me to death.”

Grace said, looking at Elena’s menacing expression, and lightly hugged one of Acell’s arms.

“Go ahead, you bitch. If you’re confident.”

“……Your insolence reaches the heavens. Do you think you’ll be safe acting like that towards a Jinjo? He is the person I’ve set my eyes on. Humans, stay away.”

“Your tone changed? Dropping the pretense now? That’s better to listen to, sounds more like a mosquito. Buzz buzz.”

At the words she spoke with a laugh, the expression vanished from Elena’s face.

……Trickle,

A puddle of blood bloomed at her feet. Grace watched the scene and put her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist.

“Stop, stop it. Why are you fighting?”

Just then, Acell, who had been watching the situation quietly, pressed down on both their heads and exclaimed.

At that, the two turned towards Acell as if they had promised, pushing their heads forward and showing docile sheep-like expressions.

“Sorryy… Just look away this once…”

“It wasn’t intentional. Please, don’t dislike me.”

“……Hoh.”

Ellen, who had been meditating in the corner of the waiting room, let out a gasp seeing the two instantly turn from fierce beasts into females. Celine also shook her head with a disgusted expression.

‘That kind of thing is the top student of the Knight Faculty and the second student of the Magic Faculty. This first year is hopeless. As expected, I should have been second.’

Just as Celine, who subtly elevated herself, was about to refine her magic one last time before the match began.

Squeak.

The firmly closed waiting room door opened, and someone peeked their head in.

The waiting room Acell was in was a special room prepared for the top, second, and high-ranking students.

Everyone who was supposed to enter was already inside, and as far as Acell knew, there were no additional people joining. Thus, Acell turned his head towards the door, wondering if it was academy staff, when.

“Ah, there he is!”

His eyes met exactly with a woman who looked similar to him.

“Uh……”

Acell felt his mind go blank at the sudden appearance of a welcome face. But his mouth moved instinctively.

“Older sister?”

“Long time no see! My brother!!”

As soon as she confirmed it was Acell, Evelyn burst the door open and entered the waiting room, wrapping her arms around Acell’s body. Acell made a muffled sound, “eubeubeub,” from the attack of a huge lump of fat covering his face and patted Evelyn’s back.

Understanding this as a request for a stronger hug, Evelyn pressed her body tightly against Acell as if to break him.

“……Older sister?”

“Huhh, sister-in-law?”

The two people sitting next to him muttered lowly upon seeing Evelyn.